Chapter 16: Horror

These next few chapters were written almost a decade ago when I dropped the story. Might as well upload them now and potentially continue from there huh? Apologies for cringe factor.

Leo

The son of Hephaestus trembled upon hearing the son of Jupiter's plea. Had he just sent his best friend to his death? "Jason? Jason?! Talk to me man!" All he heard was silence on the other line.

—o 23 Hours Ago o—

Jason

Whew! That was close. The son of Jupiter had just hidden in time from a group of tough-looking dracanae men, carrying long spears. Jason definitely didn't want to be on the other end of that. He silently sighed a breath of relief as they left. Rolling out from his hiding place, he whispered into the mouthpiece, "Leo. I'm in," and waited a few seconds before his best friend responded.

"You're safe right?" There was a hint of worry in Leo's voice which managed to make Jason grin.

"Not a scratch. I'll let you know if anything happens to me that might concern you."

"You better."

Jason rolled his eyes as he raced stealthily down the halls, avoiding any of his potential killers. Suddenly he felt his chest hit the ground. He grunted in pain, as he looked back at the reason he had fallen. Shit! Trapwire!

The blonde immediately heard footsteps from behind him. He immediately took off in the opposite direction as fast as his feet could carry him. He turned a corner, just as his pursuers turned the previous corner. Jason started to sprint even faster, probably from fear. It was a long corridor that he was sprinting down, and the chasers had spotted him, as they were all in the corridor now. Jason's eyes widened, and his mind raced. He turned to face the monsters and shot lightning from his fingers at the frontmost warrior, which happened to be a minotaur. This succeeded in buying him time to turn and sprint for his life, slightly more precious space between himself and the beasts.

He turned another corner, this time reaching a dead end. Hearing footsteps and voices, Jason scrambled to find an exit before they reached him. Unfortunately, there was nowhere else to run. The young hero turned to face his attackers. The one he had hit with lightning would be here soon. The other three turned the corner, spotting him down the passage. Jason's jaw tensed, and the boy was terrified for his life. He thanked Jupiter that he had brought his coin with him, rather than unarmed as standard recon would require. He grabbed Ivlius from his pocket and flipped it up, javelin style, not feeling a particular urge to let the monsters close to his body. The minotaurs charged Jason, and one slashed at him with a large blade. Jason struggled to defend himself with the large rod. He frantically fought off one minotaur and killed it. The other two came at him, and he barely saved himself, fighting them off and eventually killing them.

Thank Fortuna for my luck. Jason thought, gratefully. He used so much energy to fight off those three that he felt he was drained.

Just then, of course, the fourth minotaur rounded the corner. Jason whimpered. This one was especially bloodthirsty for the hero, having been shot by his lightning. The monster charged, and Jason did all he could to stop himself from sinking to his knees. The boy was strong, but this would be impossible.

Nico

Nico had been sitting out on the deck, looking at the overcasted city that lay out before him. All of this would be destroyed if they didn't act fast enough. His thoughts were cut short when Reyna came up beside him.

"Sheesh, are you sure you can't shadow travel." He laughs, turning around to face his girlfriend. Girlfriend? Um... how about... "special" friend? No that's stupid. Forget it.

"Yea, you're just so oblivious." She says, kissing him on the cheek awkwardly and sitting down next to him. "So, what are you thinking about?" She questioned him, knowing something was wrong. She was a daughter of war, not of Aphrodite, but nevertheless, he opened up to her.

"I was just thinking about the fate of the world, resting upon our shoulders. The amount of mortal lives that would be lost from this. My father would be over his head." He smiles drily, turning the fate of the world into a joke.

"Well," Reyna said, "This is nothing compared to what Percy and Annabeth went through, holding up the ACTUAL world." She laughs. "Anyway, don't worry, they seem to have everything under control. Your dad won't be flooded with souls, and neither will this city or any other city be destroyed. Percy and Annabeth went through hell, I'm sure we can win." She kisses him again, cheering Nico up.

"Don't forget, I got through Tartarus alone, and that's why I'm sitting here, admiring your beauty," Nico said, blushing. "I... love you." I sound like a four year old WHY AM I STUTTERING. Abort. Abort.

"I love you, too." She laughed. The son of Hades leaned in and pressed his lips against Reyna's passionately, letting all cares in the world go. Strangely it didn't work. The kiss just wasn't what he thought it would be.

Percy

Percy was standing right under the deck, pacing around in the lobby area, hoping for Leo to receive some news on Jason's status. Percy really worried about the blonde. He seemed emotionally unbalanced after having to fight off the Hyperborean Giants, and the monsters in the depot. Why did he have to go first, why couldn't Percy go?

Frank came up behind him as a cat—only the son of Mars could know why, and that wasn't certain either—and transformed back to Frank. "What's wrong, Percy? You seem off." Dammit Frank, always knowing a person's feelings. "It's about Jason isn't it." He looked at him, frowning.

"Yea, it is, but don't get worried about me, Big Guy; I'm fine. I just want to head in there, ya know. Destroy this thing." He looked up at Frank and smiled. This guy always seemed to cheer up Percy, even though he was praetor of a camp that tried to destroy his.

"Me too. Just getting over with this quest, heading back, trying to lead a normal, everyday, demigod life." Frank laughs. "Fighting monsters, more monsters, more, oh, and did I mention more?" Frank's half-hearted laugh was dry with sarcasm.

Percy sighed and put his arm around Frank's broad shoulders. "Yeah can't believe I miss that." The son of Poseidon smiled a little. Just then, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs from the control room. "Leo? That you?"

"Yea it's me." The boy came into view. "No news from Jason yet. Last time he checked in, he was perfectly fine."

Percy nodded, slightly worried, but not completely at rest regarding his friend's safety.

"I'd better go back. Jason could be in trouble if I'm not there for him when he needs me." With that, the son of Hephaestus climbed back up the steps into the control room.

Percy looked at Frank and smiled. "You know I really owe you a lot." The big guy looked confused at this.

"I never did anything huge for you, what do you mean?"

"Just being there. You know. Somehow you manage to be our counselor, and also be one of the seven of the Prophecy. I don't understand how you do it. Anyway, I owe you a lot just for being there, for helping me with some problems. Just know, I'm always there if you need anything." Percy says, smiling up at Frank.

Frank pulled the smaller boy into a hug, but soon Percy was gasping for air, so he loosened his embrace. "Sorry. Didn't mean to do that." He laughed.

"Hey, no problem. Now, I need something to take my mind of things. Wanna have a go at each other?" Percy questioned him, hoping he'd say yes to a swordfight.

"Fine, but once you cut me, I won't be responsible for your injuries." He laughed, turning into a Hellhound and back again, startling Percy, who tried his best to stay cool.

"Alright. I know how scary those things are, but I have a pet one back at camp, and I know just where to scratch her to make her calm down." Percy said, walking down to a room in the ship, specially designed for swordfights. Leo had thought it was a good idea, just in case someone needed to battle to the death for the last slice of pizza. Pizza sounds so damn good holy shit.

After prying Leo from the command room, the demigods headed down the ship's stairway and into the training room.

Frank gripped a sword in his strong hand. "I'm warnin' you Perce, I won't go easy." The smaller boy gulped, obviously terrified about his odds. He clearly stood no chance against his opponent. Still he grinned and put up a front.

He grabbed a sword that wasn't too heavy; he couldn't use Riptide since typically magical swords weren't used for swordfights. "I'm ready now."

Percy took a few steps back, in the large room where he was about to fight Frank. Frank, himself, took a few steps back as well. Both demigods prepared to charge to lock swords in the center as was customary in swordfights. Percy nervously looked to Frank who was flexing his incredibly muscular bicep. He gulped in fear. Whoa, chill. Frank's my boy. He's not gonna hurt me. But... this is a swordfight, and he could hurt me a bit before I can give in... And by a bit I mean break every bone in my body. Percy wouldn't call himself scrawny at all, but there wasn't a doubt in his head Frank could snap him like a twig.

Just then, Frank began his charge. Percy panicked and instead of charging forward, turned quickly and fled.

"Wait! No! You know what, I don't want to die yet. Not by the sword of my friend!" Percy yelled, running around the room. Frank only laughed behind him, chasing Percy through the room and into the hall.

"Percy, I just want you to meet my sword! You two could get very close, you have a lot in common," Frank kept chasing Percy through the halls, as Leo laughed, watching his usually strong and confident friend running for his life. Percy eventually ended up running back into the swordfighting room, Frank hot on his tail.

"Um, Frank, come on, you can't be serious enough to kill me right?" Percy laughed nervously as he ran. "R-Right?!" He asked after he heard no response. "AH! Leo!" Scratch that, he can't save me in a fight. "Nico! SOMEONE! HELP! SAVE ME!" Percy cries out desperately. He didn't want to die.

Out of the shadows of the hallway, Frank charged at Percy, charging into the room, bringing Percy to scream and whimper as he ran. He reached a wall, and attempted to sprint to the side, when he just stopped himself in time to see Frank's powerful fist pound into the wall where his head would have been if he hadn't stopped. He glanced at the dent in the—HOLY SHIT FRANK JUST PUNCHED THE WALL IN. He yelped and turned to run the opposite direction, but Frank had grabbed hold of his shirt.

SHIT! I'm dead! But I can't risk my dignity—Frank cracked his knuckles—Screw dignity! Percy tried to appeal to Frank's mercy. "Y-Yo! Don't hurt me! I'm begging you! Frank we're friends! C'mon man!"

Nico had just run in, hearing Percy's scream. "Anyone hurt?!"

The son of Poseidon shouted to Nico "Dude get him o—voice crack—ff me!"

Nico visibly processed what he saw and grinned. "I'll let you guys finish up."

"Nico he—crack—lp!" Had Percy not been terrified, he'd have been embarrassed of his voice. What could he say, his voice cracked when he got nervous.

Percy looked at his stronger friend, who could hurt him very badly the moment he wished, eyes wide. Frank smiled and rather than punch Percy, who began clenching his eyes shut bracing himself, pulled him into a hug. Percy's chest heaved with heavy breathing and panting.

"I'm not gonna hurt you Percy." The taller hero said. "Why would I even bother," he laughed, "you're not strong enough to go against me!" Frank pulled lightly out of the hug.

Percy put his hand on his chest, with a small smile of relief. "I'm glad to not be in your league. At least I live to see another day!" Nico laughed. "And you! Nico! Why don't you help a brother out when he's in danger! I could've died!" Percy laughed as he attempted to scold the son of Hades who was also chuckling.

"You were in a fight, I didn't want to interrupt, ya know." Nico said with a playful

smirk. Percy narrowed his eyes at Nico's excuse, but couldn't control his smile. "You and your masculinity complex amuse me sometimes.

"Hey where were you anyway. I was kinda looking for you!"

Nico looked at the wall, with an unsure expression on his face. Percy immediately understood, and he slapped Nico on the back.

"I still can't believe you and Reyna. How did that even start out?" Percy asked. He had been wondering how the son of Hades and daughter of Bellona had even gotten together, but when Nico stiffened up a little more he decided not to push it. "Hey, Nico, no worries. No pressure. I'm sure you two will be happy!" He laughed. Nico wrapped his arms around Percy.

"Thanks. I'll tell you later. I promise." Nico said. Percy nodded. Nico leaned into Percy's ear and said quietly, "Can we ... talk?" Percy's eyes met the son of Hades and he quickly nodded. At this point, Leo and Frank were running up to check on Jason.

Still, the son of Poseidon vividly remembered the horror he had felt as he had fled from his friend. There was something beneath that. Something he couldn't explain. Something primal.

Jason

The blonde hero stared, horrified at the charging monster that would end his life.

Leo

The son of Hephaestus sprinted into the room just in time to hear static from Jason's line on the com link. "Jason? Dude you hear me?"

Leo heard his friend's voice, but not its usual confident form. A whimper came through the comlink just before Jason cut off his line. Leo stared at the screen in the control room, and then at the speaker that had played the whimper that his friend had uttered.

He stared in horror.

Next chapter up in a week (if y'all review this one...)